While the Uttar Pradesh Tourism department is working on developing 12 major tourist routes in the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the department to prioritise strengthening ‘spiritual routes’ to harness their vast potential, a government spokesman said on Monday.
An action plan to promote tourism along religious pilgrimage routes has been developed and authorities have begun preparations to implement the strategy.
Some of the major religious sites that will be included in the spiritual pilgrimage include Ayodhya, Varanasi, Vindhyavasini Temple in Mirzapur, Chitrakoot, Nath Corridor in Bareilly and Naimisharanya in Sitapur.
According to the spokesperson, key components of the action plan include conducting a survey of tourism destinations and conducting a gap analysis to identify areas for improvement. The plan emphasises adherence to the UP Tourism Policy Document 2022 and prioritises standards based on the seven S’s – Suchna (awareness), Swagat (welcome), Suvidha (amenity), Suraksha (safety), Swachhthta (cleanliness), Sanrachna (infrastructure) and Sahyog (support).
The development of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Ayodhya and the construction of the Ram Temple and their respective corridors have led to an increase in the number of devotees and tourists visiting these places, making them some of the leading tourist spots in the state.
According to government sources, the Maha Kumbh to be held in Prayagraj in 2025 is expected to attract more than 300 million devotees.
To strategically enhance tourism development across various pilgrimage routes, including spiritual pilgrimage routes, a detailed project report (DPR) is envisaged to be prepared, which will involve a thorough tourism gap analysis.
The report will also be significant from a branding and marketing perspective, and will set benchmarks for the capacity of destinations in the spiritual circuit. Based on these criteria, the optimal strategy for developing each destination will be determined.
According to the action plan, the agency selected by Uttar Pradesh Tourism to conduct the tourism gap analysis will work with the department’s officials to decide on a study methodology tailored to the department’s requirements. The study report will include visitor feedback samples and photo and video recording of all the selected tourist destinations and will be included in the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
A spokesman said drone technology would be used to take aerial samples and conduct photo and video surveys if necessary.
The action plan includes collecting visitor feedback in all selected tourism sites and destinations as outlined in the DPR. The process includes collecting tourism statistics, evaluating growth trends and capacity, and prioritizing citizen-centric approaches. By implementing national and international best practices, leveraging global experiences, and leveraging advanced technology, this comprehensive approach aims to operationalize and upgrade these locations.
© Indian Express Ltd.
First uploaded on: 25 June 2024 10:28 IST
